Toronto geeks finally have a reason to leave the warm sanctuary of their parents’ basement this weekend. The annual Fan Expo is back, promising an entire convention centre filled with comic books, action figures, posters, bootleg DVDs and live appearances from cult figures like comic book artist Brian Bolland (The Killing Joke), actress Tura Santana (Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!), and director Wes Craven (Scream). But perhaps the most exciting guest is none other than Fonzie himself, actor and children’s novelist Henry Winkler. The permanently cool cultural icon spoke to EYE WEEKLY by phone about his career and the upcoming expo.
When did you first realize how iconic the Fonz has become?
I think it was around 1976 when I made my first public appearance in Little Rock, Arkansas. I got off the plane at about 11pm and there were 3,000 people waiting at the airport. I didn’t know exactly why until the stewardess said, “I think they’re for you.” That was a freaky moment.
Is it true that there will be a statue dedicated to you this week?
Yes. They are actually doing it and it looks beautiful. I’m going to be meeting up with the entire Happy Days family on Tuesday for the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue of the Fonz in downtown Milwaukee. I never ever thought that would happen, but it is a great tribute to the show.
Do you ever feel pressure to live up to the reputation of that character?
No, because I’ve always understood that there was no way that I could be the Fonz off screen. Because in real life I don’t have Peter, the prop man who plugged in the jukebox when I hit it. He doesn’t travel with me.
How do feel about being cast specifically to play off of your image?
Here it is: to me, acting is acting is acting. What I try to stay away from are Fonz-like characters. Everybody else is fair game. I did an episode of Law and Order where I played a killer and a Third Watch where I killed my own daughter and they were great. I just love the job. To this day I love the job.
How do you feel about the term “jumping the shark”?
Well, “jumping the shark” is just typical of America. The guy who invented it made a dollar. He got it wrong, but he made a dollar. Happy Days was number one for six years after that [episode]. But it’s OK, because every time they mention “jumping the shark” in a newspaper or magazine they usually have a picture of me on the water-skis. At that time I had great legs, so it doesn’t much matter.
How did you get involved with Arrested Development? Were you a fan?
I actually didn’t know it beforehand. In the first, year I was called in for one day. I was going to be the family lawyer for one scene and that was that. Then it would up stretching out to two and a half years. Right now, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Cheri Oteri and I are doing an animated show called Sit Down, Shut Up for Fox. The mastermind behind the show is Mitch Horowitz, who did Arrested Development. I play a bald German teacher and no one ever takes my class. It’s a completely funny dysfunctional high school comedy. I think it’s coming out in April because of how long animation takes.
What do you think of these fan conventions?
I think they’re fantastic because I get to meet so many people at one time who I would never normally meet and almost everybody wants to hug me, which is pretty fantastic.
What’s the strangest encounter you’ve ever had with a fan?
When I was in a men’s room stall in Hawaii and a woman opened the door and said, “I’ll never get this opportunity again.”
How do you even react to that?
I asked her to pass the bathroom tissue.